Just in time for Pope Francis’ one year anniversary as pope and the madness of march, we’re presenting you with a bracket to determine your very favorite moment from Francis’ first year. Which one will ultimately be voted the favorite? Voting begins now and Round 1 continues through Friday morning. Scroll down below the bracket to begin voting.
When Pope Francis said: “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?”
When Pope Francis said to Superiors General of religious orders: “We must form their [seminary students’] hearts. Otherwise we create little monsters. And then these little monsters mold the people of God. This really gives me goose bumps.”
When Pope Francis said of himself: “I am a sinner. This is the most accurate definition. It is not a figure of speech.”
At World Youth Day when Pope Francis said: “I would like us to make noise…I want the Church to be in the streets; I want us to defend ourselves against all that is worldliness, comfort, being closed and turned within.”
When Pope Francis said: “It is true that women can and should be more present in the places of decision of the church.”
When Pope Francis compared the Church to a field hospital after battle: “It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol…you have to heal his wounds. Then we can talk about everything else. Heal the wounds.”
When speaking about how God is in everyone’s lives, Pope Francis said: “Not just Catholics. Everyone! ‘Father, the atheists?’ Even the atheists. Everyone!”
In his Joy of the Gospel, when Pope Francis said: “How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points?”
When Pope Francis embraced a man disfigured by neurofibromatosis.
When Pope Francis was presented with a life-sized chocolate figure of himself.
When Pope Francis met with Pope Benedict and the world witnessed two popes together.
When Pope Francis lost his zucchetto to a gust of wind.
When Pope Francis picked up the “mini-me” version of himself.
When Pope Francis wore a hard hat while visiting miners in one of Italy’s poorest regions.
When Pope Francis made the covers of several mainstream magazines including The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, and Time.
When Pope Francis wore a clown nose to celebrate with a newlywed couple.
When Francis made friends with a little boy who wandered onto stage during the pope’s address to a crowd of families. Click here to watch.
When Pope Francis offered a blessing of the bikes to over 35,000 Harley Davidsons. Click here to watch.
When Pope Francis sent a video message on Christian Unity to Protestant evangelicals. Click here to watch.
When Pope Francis is caught on camera having “ordinary moments”.
When Pope Francis’ motorcade at World Youth Day was overtaken by crowds. Click here to watch.
When Pope Francis picked up a hitchhiker in the popemobile. Click here to watch.
When Pope Francis began driving around in a used 1984 Renault. Click here to watch.
When Pope Francis accidentally cursed and dropped an F-Bomb during a public address. Click here to watch.
On Holy Thursday when Pope Francis washed, dried and kissed the feet of 12 inmates (2 Muslim, 2 women) at Casal del Marmo jail, a juvenile detention center.
When Pope Francis began sharing God’s love in 144 characters or less on Twitter @Pontifex.
When Pope Francis lead the world to pray and fast for peace in syria — leading up to the country agreeing to give up its chemical weapons.
When Pope Francis drinks mates (traditional Argentinian hot herbal tea) with crowds whenever they offer it to him.
When Pope Francis granted an unscripted press conference on an airplane.
When Pope Francis first appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s after he was elected, offering and asking for prayers.
When Pope Francis went back to pay his hotel bill the day after he was elected pope.
Whenever Pope Francis calls people on the telephone, earning him the nickname “cold-call pope”.
